Meaning & use
viable
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Able to work or succeed in practice.
Grammar: Used for plans and options: a viable plan.
Patterns
- a viable alternative to something
The company needs a viable plan to cut costs.
Solar power is now a viable option for many homes.
The shop was not financially viable.
adjectivenot comparablebiology
Able to live, grow or develop normally.
Grammar: Used for living things: a viable seed.
Only half of the seeds were viable.
A baby born this early may not be viable without care.
The cells remained viable for several days.
Common combinations
- viable option
- Moving abroad is not a viable option.
- economically viable
- The mine is no longer economically viable.
- viable alternative
- Trains are a viable alternative to flying.
- commercially viable
- The product must be commercially viable.
- remain viable
- The plan remains viable.
Synonyms and how they differ
- feasible
- Feasible focuses on whether something can be done, while viable also asks whether it will last or pay for itself.
- workable
- Workable is plainer and focuses on whether the idea functions.
- practical
- Practical stresses usefulness in real life, while viable stresses the ability to survive or succeed.
- realistic
- Realistic is about being sensible, whereas viable is about being able to survive.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: viable or visible?
viable vs visible
Visible means able to be seen, while viable means able to work or survive.
Practice
The café was not ___ because costs were higher than its income.
Choose one answer.
Viable means able to succeed or last, which fits a business losing money. Valid means accepted or correct, which does not describe financial survival.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “viable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.